Latest news with #sub-Saharan
Libyan Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Libyan Express
Tunisian court jails lawyer Sonia Dahmani for criticising migrant policy
BY Libyan Express Jul 02, 2025 - 05:02 Lawyer Sonia Dahmani was sentenced to two years in prison under Tunisia's cybercrime law after criticising the government's stance on African migrants A Tunisian court on Monday sentenced prominent lawyer and government critic Sonia Dahmani to two years in prison over comments challenging the state's treatment of sub-Saharan migrants—raising alarm among rights groups about the deepening repression in the country. Dahmani's defence team withdrew from the courtroom after the judge refused their request to postpone the trial, accusing the court of trying her twice for the same offence. 'What's happening is a farce,' said her lawyer, Sami Ben Ghazi. 'Sonia is being punished for the same statement twice.' Fellow lawyer Bassem Trifi called the verdict 'a grave injustice'. Dahmani was arrested last year following remarks made during a televised debate, in which she criticised the Tunisian government's stance on undocumented African migrants. She was prosecuted under Decree 54, a controversial cybercrime law that has become a tool for silencing journalists, lawyers, and opposition figures. President Kais Saied has faced growing accusations of authoritarianism since seizing sweeping powers in 2021. He has repeatedly denied targeting critics, insisting his actions are lawful and aimed at ending corruption and restoring order. The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express. How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@ Please include 'Op-Ed' in the subject line.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Education Revolution: Namibian President declares free university tuition
The #FeesMustFall movement in South Africa, a student-led campaign that drew global acclaim, was a powerful call for decolonised and affordable education. l HENK KRUGER/FILE Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers 'WE have heard your cries, the fees have fallen,' announced Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. A mere month into her presidency, the first female president of the sub-Saharan nation made waves this week after announcing that university fees would be scrapped from 2026. 'I am pleased to announce that from the next academic year, commencing 2026, tertiary education will become 100% subsidised by the government,' the president said during her first State of the Nation Address in Parliament. She emphasised that 'no registration (or) tuition fees' would be required from any student at a public university or technical college. This is a particularly significant achievement by Nandi-Ndaitwah, considering the #FeesMustFall movement across neighbouring South Africa, a student-led campaign that drew global acclaim as a powerful call for decolonised and affordable education. In South Africa, #FeesMustFall not only emerged as a call to halt increases in student fees, but it also spotlighted systemic inequalities in education, largely deriving from our tyrannical history of apartheid. The systemic injustices within our education systems are not only a critical component of the apartheid legacy in our post-democratic society; they also reflect the failures of the South African government in promoting a critical human right: the right to education. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In Namibia, the #FeesMustFall movement was a reflection of the South African-led one, with a specific call for a complete shift to free, government-funded tertiary education. Similarly to South Africa, it also called for the further need to address equitable access to education, and recognise that access to quality education is not equal for all Namibians. It is, therefore, groundbreakingly admirable that Nandi-Ndaitwah has taken this significant stride in ensuring equally accessible education across all of Namibia. Continentally, Namibia will be joining Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa, and Tunisia in the provision of free tuition at public universities. Now, Namibia joins Kenya in their educational commitment: offering free primary and secondary education to its citizens. However, Namibia now stands as the ultimate benchmark, offering free education from the primary schooling level, all the way to tertiary education. This is, indeed, what the youth call 'a big flex' (meaning an impressive feat). President Nandi-Ndaitwah has certainly set the bar high. Her actions reflect a leadership that is not only listening, but also readily taking action. And all African nations desperately need to follow suit. One of the US Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, once cleverly said: 'An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.' This is certainly an outlook that is being upheld in Nandi-Ndaitwah's administration. What needs to be clear is that there is nothing that exempts Namibia from any of the challenges that are faced across African nations. Like many of its neighbours, it also contends with issues of economic access, especially for impoverished communities, shortages in qualified teachers, high dropout and reposition rates, and more. What the Namibian government has done is to meaningfully commit to addressing these challenges by putting their money where their mouth is. They have solidly implemented the subsidisation of fees, and they continue to rework their inclusivity policies, particularly where marginalised groups and foundational education are concerned. 'It is what we make of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from the other'. This profound statement by South Africa's first democratic President, Nelson Mandela, is an exact echo of the performance of Nandi-Ndaitwah. While the youth across the continent hunger for knowledge and innovation, too many of our governments continue to treat education as a secondary concern, throwing words around instead of resources, when we're in a crisis that demands action. We cannot build an independent, thriving Africa on broken chalkboards, underpaid teachers, and overcrowded classrooms. Educating the youth and every member within our society will be critical to the empowerment of our people. As a society, it is pertinent that we demand more than just slogans from those in leadership. We need leaders who prioritise our children's future over comfort and convenience. We need governments that understand that education is not charity, but a right; not a burden, but a backbone of true liberation. The calm before the storm is over. It's time for our leaders to invest, reform, and truly educate, or step aside for those who will. What's truly evident, now more than ever, is that, have examples of prolific leadership emerging across Africa. Leaders like Nandi-Ndaitwah in Namibia and President Ibrahim Traore in Burkina Faso ensure that the pessimistic, harmful narratives and prejudices around African leadership are crumbling to pieces. These are leaders who are stepping up to the plate and truly demonstrating commitment. They are aligning their actions with their words and putting the needs of the people at the forefront. The potential for Africa's proliferation is endless when guided by ethical, committed leadership, and we are seeing living examples of this, a little bit at a time. For generations, colonial and neoliberal systems have restricted access to education, gatekeeping opportunities behind tuition walls that excluded the poor, the rural, the working class, and so many more. This profound move by Nandi-Ndaitwah has essentially torn down those walls. African youth have consistently challenged systems that treat knowledge like a commodity instead of a birthright. To drive forward reform in education and succeed is a commendable achievement that cannot be understated. This is truly exemplary of 'the power of the people'. These types of new policies are those that bring about meaningful transformation, especially for children, women, those with disabilities, youth in remote areas, the historically excluded, and so many more. We cannot let uncertainty be an excuse for inaction. We must remember that no liberation movement in our history began with perfect conditions. Freedoms are built upon the audacity to act. Nandi-Ndaitwah has planted a golden seed. Let the rest of the continent take note. Africa's renaissance will not be imported; it will be built by educated, empowered, audacious Africans. Free education is not just about entrance to classrooms; it is about human rights and justice at its core. It is about healing our society from a pervasive imperialist system that still has its roots tightly wound around SA's institutional neck. Education is about reclaiming our collective right to dream of an empowered self and to shape the Africa we want to see. 'No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated,' Mandela once profoundly said. 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.' * Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist and editor at Global South Media Network. She is a researcher, columnist, and an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
NUM National Congress: Affiliates hope internal battles won't eclipse workers' challenges
JOHANNESBURG - Some National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) affiliates say they hope internal battles in the NUM won't get in the way of addressing key challenges that workers in the mining, energy and construction industries face. The union is holding its 18th National Congress in Boksburg on Thursday. Incumbent NUM President Dan Balepile is running for a second term and is vying against his deputy, Phillip Vilakazi, for the union's top position. The ongoing conference has again laid bare the internal factions troubling one of the country's oldest mining unions. Speaking for the global sub-Saharan industrial union, Elijah Chitowa says despite the clear competitive spirit in the race for new leadership, unity among union members remains key. 'It's important for a trade union organisation to have a congress so as to strengthen its own internal democracy, change of leadership and also the resilience that has been shown by the NUM, especially because it's not the only union organising workers in mining in South Africa.'
France 24
6 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
The "hell" awaiting migrants in Tunisia
Africa 15:09 From the show Hunted down and dumped in the middle of the desert without food or water. A new documentary shines a harsh light on the brutal conditions and abuses faced by sub-Saharan migrants in Tunisia. One of the filmmakers is our guest on Eye on Africa. Also in the programme, Central African Republic is in mourning. At least 29 students were killed when an explosion in a high school sparked a stampede. And we'll Semia Gharbi, a science educator who fought against waste trafficking schemes in Tunisia. For her efforts she was awarded the Goldman Environmental prize, often referred to as the Green Nobel Prize.
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
WHO Warns Of A Health Financing Emergency
20 June 2025 Speaking at the regular Friday press briefing in Geneva for humanitarian agencies, she warned that as wealthier nations make deep spending cuts, both international aid and national health systems are facing serious disruption. Dr. Chalkidou highlighted recent decisions by the United States, several European governments, and EU bodies to freeze or scale down health aid. WHO forecasts indicate that global health investment is likely to drop by up to 40 per cent this year, down $10 billion from just over $25 billion in 2023. The estimated $15 billion spent on health aid would bring the figure down to the lowest level in a decade. Impacts in developing countries This funding shortage is creating a health finance emergency in many developing countries – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa – which depend on external aid to finance their health systems. In numerous countries, US-financed healthcare programmes were the primary source of external aid, accounting for as much as 30 per cent of current health spending in countries like Malawi, and around 25 per cent in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Since 2006, external aid per capita in low-income countries has consistently exceeded domestic health spending. Many sub-Saharan nations face soaring debt burdens – some spending twice as much on debt servicing as on health – making reallocation of resources difficult. The consequences are severe: Dr. Chalkidou referred to a survey by WHO showing that countries today are reporting health service disruptions 'not seen since the peak of COVID-19'. Solutions To address this crisis, WHO is urging countries to reduce aid dependency, boost revenue through improved taxation—including health taxes on products like tobacco and alcohol—and work with multilateral banks to secure low-interest loans for cost-effective health investments. WHO also plans to attend the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, where global leaders are expected to address the health financing crisis and hopefully make new commitments.
